Call: 01392 678082

Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust

Latest news

Recent projects

  • Latest news

    18 Jun 2026

    School Reunion and Connections

    Last weekend, Simon Ruddlesden went back to school, to celebrate the retirement of an exceptional geology teacher, who, together with colleagues, has built a department that consistently ranks among the best in the country.  The results speak for themselves: over 50% of the year group now take GCSE Geology; 85% of A-Level students achieved A or A* last year.There are incredible numbers and inspiring teaching. However, despite decades of producing highly capable geology students, very few of them have ended up in the ground investigation / geotechnical / geo-environmental industry. A missed opportunity, perhaps?As discussed at the recent AGS annual conference (and elsewhere), we are hearing that there are fewer well-trained graduates entering our industry, and we are seeing fewer universities offering geoscience degrees and fewer schools offering geology at GCSE and A-Level. However, perhaps the biggest challenge of all is awareness. Ask a school-age student what a career in geology looks like, and you’ll likely hear “mining…oil and gas…quarrying”. Our industry is often not even on the radar. If students don’t know we exist, why would they ever choose this path? Why would they pick geology at university if they don’t realise it could unlock a rewarding career in our field?So, Simon will be going back to school again, not to study, but to share what we do, why it matters, and how rewarding it can be. The ground investigation/ geotechnical/ geo-environmental industry won’t be for everyone, but there could be an untapped pool of future engineering geologists and geo-environmental engineers out there; we just need to reach them earlier. Let’s make sure the next generation know we exist!If you know of a school that would like to hear what Simon has to say about working in the industry, please get in touch. 

    School Reunion and Connections
    School Reunion and Connections

  • Recent projects

    Deep Bore Soakaways, Devon

    Deep-bore soakaway drains were recommended by Ruddlesden geotechnical following observations made during conventional soakaway testing in accordance with BRE DG 365 at a proposed residential development site in Torbay. Previous geotechnical investigation and near-surface geophysics, undertaken as part of a solution feature investigation, had indicated that the use of conventional shallow soakaway drains could lead to the loss of near surface soils through underlying cavernous limestone, potentially leading to a heightened long term subsidence risk of the ground. It was considered that the careful use of deep bore soakaways could mitigate this risk, by transferring surface water into competent limestone at depth, beneath the weathered zone where concentrated flows could trigger subsidence of the ground. The installation of the deep bore soakaways was supervised by Ruddlesden geotechnical, who also carried out in-situ constant head permeability testing post-installation, to confirm the performance of the soakaway drains and the design parameters.

    39-deep-bore-soakaway-1

  • Recent projects

    Assessment of Groundwater Pressures Critical for Retaining Wall Design

    Long-term groundwater level and pressure monitoring of standpipe piezometers installed in rotary boreholes was undertaken to provide information for the design of a new retaining wall for a school in Dorset. Groundwater pressures were considered to be a key reason for the failure of the existing wall, which appeared to have inadequate drainage and so it was critical that groundwater levels and pressures, and their seasonal fluctuation, were understood for the design of the replacement wall.

    36-groundwater-assessment-reduced-1